Ramones sticksman sues Apple and Wal-Mart

Former Ramones drummer Richard Reinhardt today filed suit in US federal court in Manhattan claiming that his music publisher never had the right to "authorize distribution or duplication of six songs he wrote between 1983 and 1987" which were subsequently made available through iTunes, Wal-Mart.com's music store and Real Networks Real Store and Rhapsody services.

According to Reuters, Reinhardt's suit claims "no music publishing agreement was ever made with his music publisher" to allow the distribution of Smash You,Somebody Put Something in My Drink, Human Kind, I'm Not Jesus, I Know Better Now and (You) Can't Say Anything Nice - all of which are solely owned by the litigant.

Reihardt wants "at least" $900k in damages, as well as any profits the defendants made on the material and "a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendants from using the songs in any manner whatsoever". ®